News on TV recently said that the use of masks has been made mandatory by the national government. Only now? I recall, that, as soon as the wearing of the protective device was ordered, people in Bacolod were required to obey or they would get arrested. So those areas that did not require their people to strictly wear masks must have been the ones badly hit by this pandemic, that seems to enjoy torturing the whole world. One wonders why some people would still not obey such a simple requirement when they very well know that it could be a life saver.
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And not only their own lives, but of others as well. If they are careless for themselves then they should think of their loved ones and others they may come in contact with. We are not engulfed in a pandemic, which is the worldwide mother of all epidemics, so, if you value your life and those of your loved ones, don’t quibble about the discomfort of such a little piece of covering. It could save, not only yourself, but all you may come in contact with. Don’t be a contributor to the death rate in your community, or even your town, city or province.
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And it is the World Health Organization that has been calling on all countries to persevere in their vaccination drives. A little prick, but it could be your life saver. Remember that the President himself has commented that “It is not painful”. Don’t tell him I said so, but I thought before that he was one of those he-men who will fight dragons, but faint at the sight of a teeny-weeny needle picking their skin. Anyway, it is good to hear that vaccinations are now going on smoothly in Bacolod, and I hope more people will have the courage to undergo it. Let’s see who are the real machos among our men.
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I have always loved the saying that “It’s an ill wind that blows no good”. Now I am applying it to the report that our President has approved the request of our city, through our Congressman Greg Gasataya, for the putting up of a hospital in our City. I mean a hospital really owned by Bacolod City that will cater to its residents, especially the poor who cannot afford private ones. Of course we have our Provincial hospital, but it can hardly cope with patients, both from Bacolod and the entire province.
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Meanwhile, this came from the Department of Health: Don’t forget to wear your face mask even if you have undergone vaccination. The reason was not fully explained, but let’s be as obedient as sheep and just follow. It is such a little inconvenience, and it could save one from a great problem. So do go on wearing that tiny cover, it has great advantages, you know. It can save you from COVID, and maybe other contagious diseases, but, especially for the ladies, it will save you time from putting on make-up!
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And it seems as if even Nature is also having tantrums of its own. Our Taal Volcano is said to be grumbling, and in Malaysia, its own Nyiracongo Volcano is also having a tantrum! And the latest is that Japan is now under a State of Calamity, due to a sudden surge of the COVID! Which is why hopes for the Olympic Games are dimming, after they sounded almost all right last week! Ah, this COVID is really a destroyer of fun and games! But what can we do?
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Girls, let us all rally behind the women of Africa. It has been reported that they have been enduring, not only discrimination, but the incidence has been recorded at no less than 4,200 cases of rape and violence against them in the past two years! How did they put up with that? Well, they are fighting back now, and what the rest of the world’s females must be calling out to them is, “Go for it girls, the world is behind you”. This is no longer the Dark Ages, you know!
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It is strange, though, that so many of our people are reported to be wary of vaccinations until now. In some places, the “masa” has to be given incentive, like free rice or vegetables to entice them to be vaccinated. You’d think that in this day and age, our people would be more advanced in their mindset. I don’t think we have to do that here in Bacolod and Negros Occidental. Does it mean that our people care more for their health, are more, ahem, educated that those others? Anyway, let’s hope there are enough enticement, not only veggies, to make them go through it, for the sake of everybody else. If you have such friends or neighbors, help in convincing them to go and get inoculated. The life they will save will not only be their own, but of many others, too. Make that your mission in your community.*
